TURBOJET OFFSET BLADES
A rechargeable blender with offset blades is disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include a base assembly, a container assembly, control circuitry, and/or other components. The blender includes a set of blades that is offset from the center.
The present disclosure relates to a rechargeable blender with a set of blades that is offset from the center.
BACKGROUNDBlenders are known, typically as consumer-grade home appliances. Rechargeable batteries are known.
SUMMARYOne aspect of the present disclosure relates to a rechargeable blender with offset blades configured to blend foodstuffs. In some implementations, the rechargeable blender may be portable due to its size, and/or its rechargeability. By virtue of true portability, a user can take the blender anywhere and create drinks, shakes, smoothies, baby food, sauces, and/or other concoctions. Once the blender is fully charged, a user can prepare multiple servings quickly and easily. Lack of an external power source, much less a reliable external power source, is no longer preventing users from enjoying blended drinks. By virtue of the blades being offset from the center, foodstuffs are blended more efficiently. For example, ice is crushed more finely using fewer rotations of the blades.
The blender with offset blades may include a base assembly, a container assembly, control circuitry, and/or other components. As used herein, the term “foodstuffs” may include ingredients ranging from solid to liquid, from hot to cold or frozen, in any combination. As used herein, the term “ingredient” merely connotates something fit to ingest, and not necessarily nutritional value. For example, ice and/or ice cubes may be ingredients.
As used herein, any association (or relation, or reflection, or indication, or correspondency) involving assemblies, blades, motors, rotational axes, longitudinal axes, diameters, batteries, couplings, interfaces, buttons, detectors, indicators, magnetic elements, caps, rotations, and/or another entity or object that interacts with any part of the blender and/or plays a part in the operation of the blender, may be a one-to-one association, a one-to-many association, a many-to-one association, and/or a many-to-many association or N-to-M association (note that N and M may be different numbers greater than 1).
As used herein, the term “effectuate” (and derivatives thereof) may include active and/or passive causation of any effect. As used herein, the term “determine” (and derivatives thereof) may include measure, calculate, compute, estimate, approximate, generate, and/or otherwise derive, and/or any combination thereof.
These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Base assembly 11 may include one or more of a base body 11b (
Proximal end 21 of container assembly 12 may be disposed near set of blades 13 during blending of blender 100. Distal end 22 of container assembly 12 may be disposed opposite proximal end 21.
In some implementations, one or more mechanical couplings 16 may include threaded couplings. By way of non-limiting example,
Second mechanical coupling 16b of container assembly 12 may be disposed at or near proximal end 21 of container assembly 12. Second mechanical coupling 16b may be configured to engage first mechanical coupling 16a to couple base assembly 11 to container assembly 12. In some implementations, first mechanical coupling 16a and second mechanical coupling 16b may be threaded couplings. In some implementations, first mechanical coupling 16a and second mechanical coupling 16b may have parallel threads.
By way of non-limiting example,
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In some implementations, set of blades 13 may be mounted permanently on base assembly 11 such that base assembly 11 forms an integral whole. In some implementations, base assembly 11 may have a conical shape, wherein the bottom of the conical shape may have a diameter between 2 and 4 inches, and wherein the top of the conical shape may have a diameter between 2 and 4 inches. For example, the bottom of base assembly 11 may be wider than the top of base assembly 11, as depicted in
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By way of non-limiting example,
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Standardized charging interface 25 may be configured to conduct electrical power to rechargeable battery 15. In some implementations, standardized charging interface 25 may be configured to conduct electrical power to charge rechargeable battery 15, e.g., from an external power source. In some implementations, standardized charging interface 25 may be configured to support wireless charging of rechargeable battery 15, e.g., from an external power source, including but not limited to induction-based charging. In some implementations, standardized charging interface 25 may be a universal serial bus (USB) port configured to receive an electrical connector for charging rechargeable battery 15. In such a case, the electrical connector may be connected to an external power source. In some implementations, standardized charging interface 25 may be covered for protection and/or other reasons.
Detector 18 may be configured to detect whether first mechanical coupling 16a of base assembly 11 is engaged with second mechanical coupling 16b of container assembly 12. In some implementations, detector 18 may be configured to detect whether base assembly 11 is coupled to container assembly 12 in a manner operable and suitable for blending by blender 100. In some implementations, operation of detector 18 may use one or more magnetic elements. For example, in some implementations, one or more magnetic elements are included in container body 20 at or near proximal end 21 of container assembly 12. Engagement may be detected responsive to these one or more magnetic elements being aligned and sufficiently close to one or more matching magnetic elements that may be included in base assembly 11 (e.g., at or near first mechanical coupling 16a of base assemble 11).
Power interface 29 may be part of the user interface of blender 100. Power interface 29 may be configured to be engaged manually by the user, for example by pushing power interface 29 to turn blender 100 on and off. In some implementations, control by a user of blender 100 may be based on a switch (not shown), a button, a touchscreen (not shown), voice-controlled operation (not shown), gesture-based operation (not shown), and/or other types of user interfaces suitable to turn consumer appliances on and off. Power interface 29 may be configured to illuminate in various colors (red, blue, etc.) and/or patterns (solid, fast blinking, slow blinking, alternating red and blue, etc.). Power interface 29 may convey information regarding the operational status of blender 100 to a user. The operation status of blender 100 may be determined by control circuitry 17. Power interface 29 may be controlled by control circuitry 17. For example, if power interface 29 is solid red, blender 100 may be charging and/or insufficiently charged to blend. For example, if power interface 29 is solid blue, blender 100 may be ready for blending. For example, if power interface 29 is alternating red and blue, blender 100 may not be ready for blending due to base assembly 11 and container assembly 12 not being coupled properly and/or fully. For example, in some implementations, threaded couplings between assembly 11 and container assembly 12 may need to be tightened sufficiently for proper blending, and power interface 29 may warn the user when the treaded couplings are not tightened sufficiently. In some implementations, power interface 29 may include a power button configured to be manually engaged by the user.
Control circuitry 17 may be configured to control different functions and/or operations of blender 100, including but limited to turning blender 100 on and off, charging of rechargeable battery 15, controlling of electrical motor 14 regarding and/or during rotation of set of blades 13, determining whether mechanical couplings 16 are engaged properly for blending, controlling operation of power interface 29, and/or performing other functions for blender 100. In some implementations, control circuitry 17 may be configured to prevent rotation of set of blades 13 responsive to a determination that mechanical couplings 16 are not engaged (or not engaged properly for the intended operation of blender 100). In some implementations, control circuitry 17 may be configured to control power interface 29 to convey information regarding the operational status of blender 100 to a user. For example, power interface 29 may include a light that can illuminate in various colors and/or patterns. In some implementations, control circuitry 17 may be implemented as a printed circuit board (PCB).
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Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.
Claims
1. A blender configured to blend foodstuffs, the blender comprising:
- a base assembly, a container assembly, and control circuitry,
- wherein the base assembly includes: (i) a set of blades supported by a shaft that is rotationally mounted, wherein the set of blades is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and blend the foodstuffs, wherein the set of blades has a blade diameter during blending by the blender; (ii) an electrical motor configured to drive rotation of the set of blades, wherein the electrical motor is integrated into the base assembly, wherein the electrical motor is arranged below the set of blades and in line with the rotational axis; and (iii) a first mechanical coupling configured to couple the base assembly to the container assembly; wherein the base assembly has a base diameter around an outer periphery of the base assembly near the first mechanical coupling;
- wherein the container assembly is configured to hold the foodstuffs within a container body during blending by the blender, wherein the container assembly includes: (i) a proximal end that is open and that is disposed, subsequent to the base assembly being coupled to the container assembly, near the set of blades; (ii) a distal end opposite the proximal end; and (iii) a second mechanical coupling disposed at or near the proximal end of the container assembly, wherein the second mechanical coupling is configured to engage the first mechanical coupling to couple the base assembly to the container assembly, wherein the container body extends from the second mechanical coupling to the distal end, wherein the container body has a container diameter immediately above the second mechanical coupling, wherein a length of the container diameter matches a length of the base diameter, wherein, subsequent to the base assembly being coupled to the container assembly by engagement between the first mechanical coupling and the second mechanical coupling, the blender has a shape such that, between the outer periphery of the base assembly and immediately above the second mechanical coupling, a diameter of the shape of the blender is substantially constant, wherein the container body has a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the longitudinal axis is parallel to the rotational axis, wherein the rotational axis is offset by an offset distance from the longitudinal axis, wherein the offset distance is between 5% and 40% of the blade diameter; and
- wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the electrical motor during rotation of the set of blades.
2. The blender of claim 1, wherein the set of blades is mounted permanently to the base assembly, wherein the electrical motor is integrated permanently into the base assembly such that the base assembly forms an integral whole.
3. The blender of claim 1, further comprising a power button configured to be engaged manually by a user to turn the blender on and off, wherein the power button is included in the base assembly.
4. The blender of claim 1, wherein the set of blades includes two distal blade ends that are arranged apart by a distance equal to a blade diameter of the set of blades during blending by the blender, wherein the set of blades is arranged such that a plane of rotation defined by the two distal blade ends during blending is orthogonal to the rotational axis.
5. The blender of claim 1, wherein the shaft is rotationally mounted below an upper blade mount, the upper blade mount having a horizontal top surface, wherein the horizontal top surface of the blade mount is orthogonal to the rotational axis, wherein the base assembly includes a horizontal surface between the base assembly and the container assembly during blending.
6. The blender of claim 1, wherein the base assembly has a front side, a back side, a left side, and a right side, wherein the rotational axis is offset by the offset distance from the longitudinal axis such that the rotational axis is closer to the back side of the base assembly than to the front side of the base assembly, and further such that the rotational axis is equidistant from the left side and the right side of the base assembly.
7. The blender of claim 1, further comprising a detector, wherein the detector is configured to make a detection whether the base assembly is coupled to the container assembly in a manner operable and suitable for blending by the blender, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to allow or prevent rotation of the set of blades, based on the detection by the detector.
8. The blender of claim 7, wherein the container body includes one or more magnetic elements disposed at or near the proximal end of the container assembly, and wherein detection by the detector is based on proximity of magnetic elements in the detector with the one or more magnetic elements included in the container body.
9. The blender of claim 1, wherein the container body has a circular cross-section.
10. The blender of claim 1, wherein the container body has a cylindrical shape.
11. The blender of claim 1, wherein the first and second mechanical couplings are threaded couplings.
12. The blender of claim 1, wherein the container assembly has a volume between 8 and 48 ounces.
13. The blender of claim 1, wherein the base assembly has a diameter between 2 and 4 inches.
14. The blender of claim 1, wherein the electrical motor is configured to operate at a voltage between 5V and 10V, and wherein the electrical motor is configured to spin the set of one or more blades at a speed between 20,000 and 35,000 rotations per minute.
15. The blender of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is included in the base assembly.
16. The blender of claim 1, wherein the base assembly further includes:
- a rechargeable battery configured to power the electrical motor; and
- a standardized charging interface configured to conduct electrical power to the rechargeable battery;
- wherein the rechargeable battery is integrated permanently into the base assembly such that the base assembly forms an integral whole.
17. The blender of claim 16, where the rechargeable battery is not user-replaceable.
18. The blender of claim 16, wherein the standardized charging interface is a universal serial bus port configured to receive an electrical connector for charging the rechargeable battery.
19. The blender of claim 16, wherein the standardized charging interface is configured to support wireless charging of the rechargeable battery.
20. The blender of claim 16, wherein the rechargeable battery has a capacity between 1000 mAh and 6000 mAh.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 4, 2020
Publication Date: Apr 29, 2021
Patent Grant number: 11229891
Inventor: Ryan Michael Pamplin (Oakland, CA)
Application Number: 16/984,967